Read 2 Corinthians 3:12 - 4:2. The COVID rules are relaxed. We don’t need to wear a mask so much. What freedom!
Today, we remember the Transfiguration – the day when Jesus took three disciples up to a mountain to pray, and he was transformed. His face glowed! The voice of God declared who Jesus was, and told the disciples to listen to him. Moses and Elijah were there, too: Jesus was truly to be listened to. He brought together the great priest and the great prophet. And his journey would move the world beyond Moses and Elijah.
Moses was famous as the one who brought the Law from Mt Sinai. When he did this, his face glowed with the glory of God. How did Moses manage this? He wore a veil – a mask. Moses was embarrassed about what happened with this glory. It faded. When he was with God, the face of Moses glowed. But the glow wore off. It wasn’t a good look. So Moses wore a mask. He hid the glory from the people. He didn’t want people to see him changing from God’s special messenger to an ordinary-looking person.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians. He is telling them something new – something different. The Law was good and useful, but it wasn’t the most important thing for life. It showed something of God’s glory, but the effect wore off. We can’t live a full life if we just follow rules. The many rules of the Old Testament were a burden for ordinary people. It became more than the Ten Commandments. There were special sacrifices, special cleaning rituals, many things you could not eat, many things you could not do. Too many rules, no promise of life.
Sometimes we make burdens for ourselves with too many rules. I remember one man who felt guilty on holiday because he couldn’t go to his pastor son’s church that Sunday. He always went to his son’s church. He had made himself a rule. It came from a good place, but it was a wrong idea. He couldn’t enjoy worshipping on holiday in a different church.
Rules have a reason, but they need to come from the right place. When we wear a mask during a pandemic, it should be because of love. We love our neighbour and we don’t want to accidentally infect them. If the situation changes, the rule changes. That’s life in the Spirit. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor 3:17).
Paul tells the Corinthians that there’s a new glow – one that doesn’t wear off, like Moses. And who wears this glow? They do! The Corinthians! The Corinthians aren’t perfect – we know that. Paul has written so much to correct their mistakes. But Paul believes in what God is doing in them. Open to God’s love, they have the glow. They have the glory, and – while they connect to the Holy Spirit – it’s growing, not fading (2 Cor 3:18).
There’s something open and honest about a true Christian. There’s no need to wear a mask. There’s no need to be embarrassed. People will be drawn to people who show love.
Will we wear a mask when we talk to others about Jesus? We have freedom now! The physical mask is gone. People can see our nose and our mouth. And yet – we might still be wearing a mask. To show the love of Jesus, we must be real people. Our plans must be seeded in love and directed by the Holy Spirit. People can tell if we are just using the tricks of salesmen. They can tell if we are just saying words. So Paul says, “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception” (2 Cor 4:2).
Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will grow our love for God’s people, and move us us to honestly bear his light, so they have every chance to come to Christ.
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